Twice-daily proton pump inhibitor therapy does not decrease the frequency of reflux episodes during nocturnal recumbency in patients with refractory GERD: analysis of 200 patients using multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH testing

Diseases of the Esophagus, 04/27/2012Clayton SB et al.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) decrease the acidity of esophageal refluxate but do not decrease the relative frequency of reflux episodes in the recumbent position in patients with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) despite twice–a–day treatment with PPI therapy.

Methods

Demographic analysis of the on-therapy group revealed a mean age of 52 years (24–78 years) with 37% males, and the off-therapy group revealed a mean age of 49 years (18–84 years) with 40% males.

All studies were interpreted to assess and characterize the number of acid and nonacid reflux episodes in the nocturnal recumbent period identified by each patient on an overnight recorder (Zephyr, Sandhill Scientific, Inc., Highlands Ranch, CO, USA).

The nocturnal recumbent period was the period documented by patients during which they lie in the recumbent period at night to sleep with average periods lasting 456 and 453 minutes for patients on and off PPI therapy.

Results

There were more mean recumbent reflux episodes in the on-therapy group in comparison with the off-therapy group (3.76 mean reflux episodes [mre] per patient in the recumbent vs. 2.82 mre); the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.187).

When the reflux events are classified into acid and non-acid reflux episodes, the relative occurrence of acid reflux events is less in the on-therapy group (P = 0.047), while the off-therapy group have fewer nonacid reflux episodes (P = 0.003).